Given his description as a person who values the suspension of critical thought, and actively seeks delusion, I can't see how this individual could not have adopted some sort of superstitious type behaviour. Of course, he is western person, so the superstition took the shape consistent with cultural learning.

Correct me if I'm wrong. He threw in the story that could be a quick cut and paste job and has never been seen in this forum since then. He got us busy and probably he doesn't give a shit. I don't know, it seems to happen more often. Or maybe I missed a reply but I think not.I suspected something alike with BS but he at least is present whilst that doesn't make a big difference either.

^^^ That is what I suspect. I'm about ready to trash this whole topic because I don't believe this is JWBlake's personal testimony and I'm not going to let the testimonials section become a troll's paradise.

Logged

So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence. --Bertrand Russell

^^^ That is what I suspect. I'm about ready to trash this whole topic because I don't believe this is JWBlake's personal testimony and I'm not going to let the testimonials section become a troll's paradise.

I'm not so sure about that. I googled the name that is mentioned in the OP and the links and the story look a bit too obscure to just stumble over it without knowing what to search for. It would be helpful if JW would participate and say something about this.

But apart from that I think some good arguments have been made here so that this might serve as an example for testimonial stories like this.

I'm not so sure about that. I googled the name that is mentioned in the OP and the links and the story look a bit too obscure to just stumble over it without knowing what to search for. It would be helpful if JW would participate and say something about this.

It could be that they are friends, relatives or maybe JW just stumbled across that testimony somewhere and saved it for a special occasion.

Lots and lots of questions for JW to answer if and when he decides to return.

Logged

So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence. --Bertrand Russell

I'm not so sure about that. I googled the name that is mentioned in the OP and the links and the story look a bit too obscure to just stumble over it without knowing what to search for. It would be helpful if JW would participate and say something about this.

But apart from that I think some good arguments have been made here so that this might serve as an example for testimonial stories like this.

Asmoday, if you aren't familiar with JWBake1982's posting history, here is the main reason why I come to the conclusion that he is not Mathias Colwell: In this thread JW says...

"[...]my first experience when I was 15 I had utterly no idea that I was going to get anything in return from deciding to give up my life and follow Jesus."

This conflicts with the Mathias story of being an staunch atheist / debating and ridiculing Christians until he had a spiritual experience in a bedroom at 19. Clearly not the same guy.

Despite all of God's goodness and amazing love, this does not mean that life with God is a life without trial, not at all. I have found many things difficult in life since becoming a Christian. For example, many people with whom I used to be close and intimate, I no longer share a deep emotional bond. Friends in my life have floated in and floated out like leaves on the wind, as not all of them share my passion for God.

It's always sad to hear someone discard real and true friends for an imaginary being. I'd say more, but I don't know how to articulate my thoughts on something as warped as this

Quote

God moves differently with each person, and my goal in life now is to get to know God better, to develop an even greater intimacy with God, because once you have tasted God's love, nothing else can satisfy like His presence does.

Bwahahahahahaha! I know what he's trying to say, but that just sounds so wrong!

I've read so many of these "stories" that they all seem to be the exact same story. I can write one myself, and Christians would believe it to be true even if I told them I made it up. They'd say, "You can't make up something that pure." or some shit. I've heard it before; this is no different.

I had a similar experience when I converted to the cult. I used the PUSH thing- Pray Until Something Happens. I prayed hard for a long time, and then I felt a great comfort, all that wishy-wahsy stuff. Years later I started hallucinating.. and it's the same feeling sometimes. I now have figured out that when you pray hard or whatever, it sets you up for a self-induced hallucination. This is why people under stress praying hard experience things- their mind tricks them into feeling what they want to feel. IMO, simple as that.

Of course, in this person's case, the alcohol withdrawal probably added to it as well, making it even easier to hallucinate.